“People shouldn't overreact,” Brown said. “I get why we all can. But it's not a situation at all that people need to overreact to.”

Calkins Media broke the story of Embiid's “minor setback” Monday. The 7-foot Embiid appears to be the Sixers' best hope to be franchise player on the current roster.

Brown admitted Embiid, who was already expected to sit out the entire season, told the team of the soreness Saturday and the medical staff put him in the boot at that point. One night earlier, Embiid did a between-the-legs dunk in the layup line prior to the Sixers' home loss to the Jazz.

While saying “I don't believe” the dunk caused the issue, Brown said, “I think when you see him doing a dunk and then you see him in a boot, people connect the dots. And it's fair.

“Nobody's trying to be clandestine. It's very transparent. … When he said, 'I feel a little soreness,' our first reaction is to go back to Square One and go back to the boot.”

Brown confirmed that Embiid was in Los Angeles on Tuesday for a previously scheduled checkup with his doctor and said a little soreness is normal in Embiid's situation and “not a reaction to this groundswell of information, which I understand.”

Brown repeated that the boot “is more of a precautionary thing.”

Embiid had two screws inserted into the navicular bone of his right foot June 20 after suffering a stress fracture during a predraft workout. His doctor projected Embiid would miss five to eight months, according to Sixers general manager Sam Hinkie. It's a week away from nine months since the surgery.

Hinkie declined to speak to the media.

“We've just got to make sure that we help put him in environments that'll allow him to maximize his health,” Brown said. “As we know, it's all about his health.”

While Brown said the Sixers have to “tame” Embiid, the No. 3 overall pick by the Sixers in last June's draft, the former Kansas center “just wants to be on the court. He's dying to play basketball.”

Big man Nerlens Noel, who sat out his entire rookie season recovering from a torn ACL, said he also had some soreness at times during his year away from playing.

“Joel still has a little bit of ways to go, but he has come such a long way,” Noel said. “You're able to do some things, but you want to be able to do everything.”

Injury update

Noel practiced Tuesday after sitting out Monday with a strained shin that he said is feeling better. He plans to play Wednesday against the visiting Bulls.

Guard Isaiah Canaan (upper respiratory infection) was sidelined for the second consecutive session. Brown expects to use Canaan vs. Chicago but was leaning toward not starting him.